Everything You Need to Know About the 2018 Winter Olympics

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In the sports world four years goes by in a flash. It’s been almost exactly that long since the last winter Olympics took place in Sochi, Russia, which means we’re gearing up for the next iteration in just over a month. Read on for all the important details like where to watch, when to watch, and who to watch at the 2018 Winter Olympics!

Where Are the 2018 Winter Olympics?

The 2018 Winter Olympics have been a source of controversy and uncertainty due to its host location. This year, the heralded Olympic games will take place in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Due to its close proximity to the ever-dangerous North Korea, many countries have expressed concerns over safety, with some even threatening to not participate. As recently as December, there was discussion on whether or not the United States would be a part of the games. However, it looks as though everything is on track and most major countries, including the U.S., will participate as planned.

When Do the Winter Olympics Start?

The Winter Olympics begin on February 8 (featuring curling and ski jumping) with the official opening ceremonies taking place on Friday, February 9. The games will run through Sunday, February 25, a day that will include multiple events as well as the closing ceremonies.

How Do I Watch the 2018 Winter Olympics?

Thanks to NBCUniversal’s long-term broadcast deal with the IOC, the 2018 games will be broadcast across the corporation’s multiple networks. The list of networks is as follows:

You’ll also find event coverage on the NBC Sports app as well as NBCOlympics.com. For the first time, all primetime coverage will air live in all time zones. In the past, many events were tape-delayed for the west coast.

Winter Olympics 2018: Sports and Events

Two weeks. 15 sports. 102 events. During the 2018 Winter Olympics, you’ll find everything from alpine skiing to speed skating. Men’s and women’s ice hockey will be a major highlight, as will the 10 different snowboarding events and the always-exciting luge competitions. The full list of sports includes:

This year’s Olympics also include four new competitions including big air snowboarding, mixed team alpine skiing, mass start speed skating, and mixed doubles curling.

What’s New at This Year’s Winter Olympics?

If you’re a hockey fan excited for the men’s Olympic competition, you should take note that the NHL has refused to send its players to Pyeongchang. This means that there will be no NHL players lacing up their skates for the United States, Canada, or any of the European countries. No Patrick Kane for the U.S. No P.K. Subban for Canada. No Alex Ovechkin for Russia. While this is a bummer for NHL lovers, it does offer an exciting opportunity for hockey players playing in minor or international leagues.

Due to a major doping scandal, the Russian Olympic Committee has been suspended from all competition. Individual Russian athletes will be allowed to compete as “Olympic Athletes from Russia” as long as they have complied with the IOC’s strict doping regulations. This means that, in any competition you see Russian atheltes, they’ll be designed as OAR with a neutral flag with the Olympic anthem played. There is no participation from the Russian Olympic Committee.

As of this writing, 88 nations (plus the aforementioned OAR) have at least one qualified athlete for these Olympic games. The list includes first-timers Ecuador, Eritrea, Kosovo, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Every two years, the Olympics bring weeks of excitement, unexpected storylines, and a look at the world’s most talented athletes. The 2018 Winter games should offer up all of this and more. You can bet that we’ll be glued to our TVs and streaming devices in a few weeks.